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Home , Adirondack Park, Statue of Liberty

Statue of , US Military Academy, City West Point Devils Tower, Wyoming

Join MLC Alumni and fellow WELS members June 15-27, 2019 for a 13-day, 12-night guided tour $2500 double $3300 single

Includes round-trip flights from MSP, deluxe motor coach service, attraction admissions, guide fees, 12 hotel nights, and much more. , Boldt Castle, 1000 Islands

Niagara Falls Trip Highlights Include . . .

NYC Guided Tours, 911 Memorial, of Liberty, West Point, Lake Placid, Adirondack Park, 1000 Islands, Finger Lakes, Corning Museum of Glass, Watkins Glen, Letchworth & Niagara Falls State Parks

For more information, contact Steve Balza 507.217.1731 [email protected]

TOUR OVERVIEW

W/ELS members are invited to join the MLC Alumni Association for an affordable, enjoyable, and educational tour of the great State. We’ll spend three nights in each of four distinct regions: , the Adirondacks, the Finger Lakes, and Niagara Falls. Tour manager Steve Balza will do his best to keep us comfortable, safe, and on schedule. MLC professor Jim Pope will lead daily devotions and keep our souls well fed. We believe we’ve put together an itinerary that hits the highlights, includes some lesser-known gems, and allows some free time for you to relax and refresh— or explore some more!

Prof. Jim Pope Steve Balza

New York City (June 15-17)

“Start spreadin’ the news. I’m leavin’ today. I want to be a part of it—New York, New York!” Fairfield Inn Downtown will be our home as we take a bite of the Big Apple. It is ideally located in the shadow of the World Trade Center and 911 Museum—two blocks from , five blocks from Battery Park, and adjacent to a subway station. We’ll land at LaGuardia Airport, then begin our journey with WELS worship, lunch, and Bridge fellowship at nearby Sure Foundation. Other highlights include a step-on guided tour of midtown , a walking tour of downtown, a ferry to and the , and your choice of a Yankees ballgame or a production of Phantom of the Opera. You’ll also have some free time to explore on your own.

Lake Placid/Adirondacks (June 18-20)

The Adirondack Park in northeast New York encompasses one-third of the state’s land—over 6.1 million acres, 10 thousand lakes, and 30 thousand miles of rivers and streams. It is also a unique mix of private land (home to 132,000 people in 102 towns) and government-held property. The Quality Inn on Lake Placid will accommodate us for our time in this incredible region. Highlights will include a dinner cruise and visits to Quality Inn, Lake Placid Adirondack the Experience museum and sites associated with the 1932 and 1980 Olympic winter games. A dedicated mid-tour “rest day” will give us a chance to relax, shop, hike, or use the complimentary canoes, rowboats, and pedal boats offered by our lakeside hotel. Finger Lakes/1000 Islands (June 21-23)

The Best Western Plus/Liverpool will be home base for our central New York visit. The region gets its name from 11 long, narrow, glacial lakes surrounded by rolling hills and some incredible state parks. Pack your cameras, as we’ll enjoy many vistas of the lakes and visit several of those stunning state parks—including two that USA Today ranked among the top in the nation: Letchworth (#1) and Watkins Glen (#3). We’ll begin our Sunday with WELS worship and lunch Letchworth SP at Cross of Christ, followed by a trip to Alexandria Bay on the Saint Lawrence River for a scenic cruise among the 1000 Islands. Other highlights include a Watkins visit to the highly acclaimed Corning Museum of Glass and a stop for Glen SP a glass of wine along the Seneca Lakes Wine Trail.

Niagara Falls (June 24-26)

In addition to the world-renowned falls, this region is known for its beautiful gardens, bountiful recreation opportunities, a robust wine industry, and a thriving theater scene. Sheraton by the Falls, adjacent to the Seneca Casino on the quieter New York side, is our final hotel. Perfectly located less than a mile from the falls, you’ll be able to easily enjoy optional morning visits to the Maid of the Mist or Cave of the Winds. The Rainbow Bridge to Canada is just a half mile away. You’ll have Niagara Falls multiple by Night opportunities to get up close to the falls (both day and night). Our excursions will also take you off the beaten path with visits to Old , the Whirlpool, and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Wine Tasting

Transportation/Accommodations

You have the option of taking the group flight from Minneapolis (departing MSP at 7:00 a.m. on June 15 and returning at 5:00 p.m. on June 27) or making your own flight arrangements. Those meeting us in NYC should plan to be at LaGuardia Airport by 10:30 a.m. on June 15. Group flight passengers will enjoy complimentary parking and coach transportation from MLC in New Ulm or Bloomington Lutheran Church in the . Also Sheraton, included with the group flight is a hotel room near the Niagara Falls Minneapolis airport on June 14. Upon arrival in New York, we’ll travel on a deluxe motor coach, complete with air conditioning, every-seat outlets, DVD/AV system, reclining seats, and a restroom. Due to space limitations, each person is limited to one suitcase (rollers recommended) as well as a small carry-on or personal item. We will load and unload the luggage from the bus, but you will be responsible for transporting your luggage to and from your room (with the exception of our NYC stay). Our hotels are all nonsmoking 2.5- to 3-star establishments, with complimentary internet access. COST/PAYMENTS COSTS, DEPOSIT, AND PAYMENT INFORMATION: Single occupancy (one person/room) cost is $3300 and double occupancy (two persons/room) is $2500 per person. If you are traveling alone but would prefer having a same-gender roommate to split costs, please note that on your registration form, and we will do our best to accommodate.

Discounts: Deduct $400 if you are making your own flight arrangements. $20 discounts are available to previous travelers, seniors 62+, MLC students, anyone making full payment, and early birds who register online and accept e-communication.

Gratuities: Tips for our bus drivers, step-on guides, attraction guides, and group meal servers are included in your cost. Tips for hotel housekeepers, non-included meal servers, etc., are your responsibility.

Payments: Confirmed passengers must submit a $500 payment by January 1. This deposit is fully refundable until March 31, when final payments are due.

INCLUDED MEALS 18 meals are included: 12 hotel breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 2 dinners. Remaining meals (about 18) will be on your own. Complimentary water and occasional bus snacks will be provided throughout the tour.

CONFIRMED PASSENGERS AND WAITLISTS Based on past tours, we expect the approximately 47 available spots to sell out quickly. Registration will open at noon on December 15. If necessary, a “lottery system” will be used to determine confirmed passengers. Remaining registrants will be placed on a waitlist. In the past, waitlist members who have been able to keep their schedule clear have frequently made it on board. Waitlisted registrants do not need to send any deposit or payment until they are confirmed passengers. PASSPORT/MOBILITY REQUIREMENTS Lord willing, we will be entering Canada for one day during our Niagara stay. Currently, US citizens are required to have a valid passport, passport card, or NEXUS card to enter Canada and return to the . We strongly encourage—but do not require—passengers to obtain the necessary document. Without it, you will be on your own and unable to join us for our day in Ontario (lunch, theatre show, winery, etc.). On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being a high level of mobility required, we rate this tour a 6. All passengers will need to be able to get in and out of the bus (about 4 steps) on a regular basis. You will also be required to transport your bag between the bus and hotel rooms (with the exception of our NYC stay). Guided tours and museum visits will require a fair amount of walking, and free-time options in NYC would greatly benefit from use of the subway system. As always, we encourage travelers to know their own limitations.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

MLC is not offering academic credit for this tour. However, those interested in learning more about the various destinations we plan to visit are encouraged to peruse the tour website at https://mlc-wels.edu/alumni/tours/. Currently in development, the site will soon feature a recommended reading list, links to videos, reviews, and web pages that provide extensive information and images. Also included will be galleries of past tours and previews of future tour plans.

TRIP INSURANCE Trip insurance is not offered for this tour. If desired, individuals may purchase a policy through a provider of their choice.

QUESTIONS

Visit the tour website or contact tour manager Steve Balza ([email protected] or 507-217-1731).